Rudy Giuliani has found himself in hot water, as lawyers for two women, defamed by him, continue their search for his assets. The women are trying to claim a portion of the $148 million in damages owed to them after Giuliani’s false claims following the 2020 election.
In a recent courtroom appearance, Giuliani spent over three hours being questioned about his financial assets. Sitting under the courtroom lights and squinting at a small monitor, the 80-year-old former New York City mayor repeatedly insisted he never intentionally hid anything from the court or withheld information about his belongings.
However, one item he did admit to keeping hidden was his grandfather’s 120-year-old gold pocket watch. “I didn’t want to risk losing it,” Giuliani said, adding that it meant a lot to him. But his reluctance to hand over the watch raises further questions about his compliance with court orders.
This hearing is part of a broader investigation into whether Giuliani should be held in contempt for ignoring requests to turn over evidence. Despite repeated reminders from the court, Giuliani still claims that he doesn’t know where some of his belongings are, even questioning whether he ever owned them.
Among the items in question were a vintage Mercedes Benz, a New York penthouse, and a variety of signed sports memorabilia, which were originally listed in his bankruptcy filings. Giuliani had claimed he was in the process of moving things around during that time, which led to the disappearance of items like a signed Joe DiMaggio Yankees jersey. When questioned, he defended his actions, saying it was possible that the jersey was moved out during the time his apartment was cleared.
As his testimony continued, Giuliani struggled to account for everything listed in his bankruptcy filings. “I get confused about what I have and what I don’t,” he admitted. “I know you might find that hard to believe, but I’ve accumulated a lot of Yankees memorabilia… I’m not hiding anything.”
The court was also made aware that while Giuliani had turned over several items, including watches and a diamond ring, he had not provided all necessary documentation for assets like his penthouse apartment. His ex-wife’s name on the title has added another layer of difficulty in the process of liquidating these assets to satisfy the defamation damages.
In a series of Christmas Eve court filings, Giuliani insisted he had handed over everything required by the court and argued that the women had received all they could. However, his claims have been met with skepticism.
Further complications have arisen with his previous attorney, Kenneth Caruso, who withdrew from representing him after Giuliani allegedly refused to participate in the discovery process, including handing over his electronic devices. Giuliani, however, insists he never spoke to Caruso about the withdrawal.
While Giuliani has faced some challenges with keeping track of his assets, he remains adamant that he’s not hiding anything intentionally. But with ongoing legal battles—including a contempt hearing in Washington, D.C., and a trial in Florida—Giuliani’s efforts to avoid sanctions seem to be unraveling.
As Giuliani continues his testimony, he’s set to appear virtually again in January, hoping for a favorable outcome. But given the course of events so far, it’s clear his legal troubles are far from over.
Stay tuned as this high-profile case continues to unfold.
